OstomyLife Community

How to Exercise with an Ostomy Video

Watch our Ostomy Lifestyle Specialist, Laura Cox, in her video on how to exercise with an ostomy. In this video, Laura discusses how to get started exercising after surgery, the importance of staying hydrated and suggests which exercises are best. Please note that Laura has an ileostomy, so her tips may be geared towards her fellow ileostomates, although those with urostomies or colostomies may also find the tips helpful.

Why Exercise?

Exercising increases the release of endorphins in the body. Endorphins are responsible for boosting your mood and decreasing pain perception. Additionally, exercising is good for bone strength and cardiovascular health.

Exercise can be especially helpful during ostomy surgery recovery. The body movement helps to wake up your intestines and can shorten recovery time, assuming you take it slowly and follow your doctor’s directions.

Be sure that you speak with your doctor before starting any exercise routine — especially when you would like to begin exercising after surgery.

The best way to start – once you have your doctor’s approval – is to begin walking. This will help to build your endurance back up to where it was before surgery.

2 Comments

Hi Laura, in your Exercising with An Ostomy video you showed three great yoga poses. Is there a particular yoga DVD you would recommend that incorporates these and/or an exercise DVD which is good for ostomates? Your videos here and on Ostomystory are so helpful. I look forward to more of them ☺

Hi Christine! I’m so glad you find them helpful! I actually do yoga that I find on YouTube! My favorite YouTube Yogi is “Yoga with Adriene!” She is fantastic and also teaches meditation and all sorts of useful things! I hope you’re happy and healthy! 🙂